Folding crate.



No. 647,390. 7 Patented Apr.- l0, I900. S. FEASTEB.

FOLDING CRATE.

(Application filed Nov. 15, 1899.)

2 Sheds-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 647,390. Patented Apr. l0, I900.

s. FEASTEB.

FOLDING CRATE.

(Applies-flier: filed Nov. 15, 1899.)

(m, Model.) 2 sham-sum 2.

m mvz ntoz 6(a) dmkr qXWmmv/a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SANFORD FEASTER, OF SEYMOURVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 647,390, dated April10, 1900.

Application filed November 15,1899. Serial No. 787,090. (No model.) 7

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SANFORD FEASTER, a

l citizen of the United States, residing at Seymourville, in the countyof Grant and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Folding Crates, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to folding boxes or crates; and one object is toprovide a crate which may be compactly folded into small compass forreturn to the shipper and when so folded will have its parts firmlysecured together.

A further object of the invention is to employ detachable rods forsecuring the crate in its unfolded position and to utilize the same rodsfor securing the parts of the crate together in their folded position.

The construction of the crate will be fully described hereinafter inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthisspecification, and its novel features will be defined in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a box or crateembodying the invention when in its unfolded position. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same with its top and bottom open. Fig. 3 is a verticalsec tion on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a horizontal section onthe line i 4. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the crate in itsfolded position. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the folded crate, andFig. 7 illustrates a modification.

The four sides of the box are designated by the reference-numerals 1, 2,3, and 4:, respectively, and, as best shown in Fig. 4, are connectedtogether by hinges 5 and 6. The

hinges 5, arranged at diagonally-opposite corners, are external hinges,and the hinges 6, which .connect the other diagonal corners of the box,are secured within the box, thus permitting the four sides to be foldedtogether into flat position.

7 designates the bottom of the box,hinged to the lower edge of the sidelby externallysecured hinges 8, and 9 designates the cover, secured byexternal hinges 10 to the upper edge of the side 3. The edges of the topand bottom are recessed to form shoulders 10, which fit against thesides of the box. The inner surface of the bottom 7 is provided 7 isalso provided near one of its hinges with another loop or staple 16 fora purpose hereinafter described. The inner surface of the cover is alsoprovided with a row of depend= ing loops or staples 17, which when thecover is in place to close the box or crate are in alinementwith holes18 and 19, formed in the sides 2 and 4. The cover is secured in closedposition by a locking-rod 20, provided with a loophandle 21. The cover 9is also provided with a loop or staple 23, which is adapted to alinewith the staples 11 of the bottom when the crate is folded.

It will be apparent that the parts of the box or crate when in unfoldedposition are firmly secured together by the locking-rods 14 and 20, andsaid rods also serve to secure the parts are withdrawn and the sides ofthe box are folded together so that the sides 3 and 4 will rest againstthe sides 2and 1, respectively. The cover 9 is then turned back uponside 3 and the bottom 7 is turned over upon the side 4, which brings theloop 16 of the bottom into alinement with the loops 17 of the cover, andthe loop 23 of the cover into alinement with the loops 11. After theloops are thus alined the rods 14. and 20 are inserted so that theirbent ends embrace the edges of the sides 1 and 2 to lock the partsfirmly together.

In lieu of the staples for the reception of the rods 14 and 21continuous keepers may be used, each comprisinga strip of sheet metalformed with a central longitudinal groove 25 t sides; a hinged cover; ahinged bottom; keepers projecting from the cover and bottom; and 15removable locking-rods provided at their outer ends with bent handlesadapted to clamp the parts of the boX or crate in their folded position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 2o in presence oftwo-Witnesses.

SANFORD FEASTER.

Witnesses:

L. J. FORMAN, W. O. MooMA

